Rozycki seeing all this, and apprehensive that the least delay might prove fatal, suddenly reascended the dyke with his cavalry; formed them into platoons for a charge, and posted his small infantry force, by way of guard, on the accessible side of the embankment, in order to protect himself from a surprise on the part of the Cossacks. The Russians, who were advancing in serried columns, now formed into squares; here again a chance of the ground seemed to be greatly in favour of the Russian commander, as there was a small wooden bridge between him and Rozycki, by taking possession of which, or by destroying a few of its planks, he might greatly have embarrassed and impeded Rozycki's attack, and have thus materially aided his own defence: these precautions however he neglected. The insurgent Poles lowered their lances, and charged with impetuosity on the close ranks of the enemy: the Russian infantry reserved their fire, which commenced only when the Polish horsemen had arrived within ninety paces of their position. The foremost attacking platoons, however, were mounted on those choice and far-famed horses from the steppes of the Ukraine, the superior energy and spirit of which it would be difficult to describe. Three of the insurgents rode down a few of the foot soldiers, and leaped into the square. This was the signal for the general disorder that ensued. A Russian infantryman cried out for quarter; the commander, with a blow from his sword, killed him on the spot, at the same time shouting — *' niet pardon dery sia! (no quarter, fight away I)" But in another instant three Polish lances lifted him aloft into the air, and he fell dead to the earth. The carnage now commenced; the square once broken was speedily cut to pieces and all but exterminated: every officer perished, scarcely a soldier escaped. A second Russian detachment, who essayed to close the road to the Polish troops, was instantly overthrown; and Rozycki entered Novosilki, passing over the bridge, which he immediately began to demolish. Whilst his orders to this effect were still being executed, and the last remnants of the bridge were being destroyed, several columns of Russian infantry and cavalry, a number of field-pieces, and a whole army of Cossacks, were already mounting the embankment; but it was too late; Rozycki escaped with all his men; had the chains and fetters which had been prepared for him by the Russians, in anticipation of his capture, broken to pieces and thrown into the river, and ultimately made good his junction with the Polish army at Zamosc.
In the conduct of this famous skirmish, which saved this little Polish band of patriots from apparentl} almost certain destruction, and in which he lost but verv y few of his men, we cannot deny to Rozycki, the merit of great courage and ability. The Russian commander, although on his part perhaps equally brave, and worthy both of a better cause and of a better fate, was as clearly deficient in military tact and keenness of observation; he was, indeed, the cause of his own perdition: a daring and chivalrous courage, untempered by prudence, would appear to be far more serviceable to cavalry than to infantry, whose courage, especially in attacks from cavalry, should be of the tranquil and passive order. He forgot that the Duke of Wellington, whose name he invoked, and who fought seventy battles and gained seventy victories, never once omitted to turn to the best account all the advantages he might find to be available; that he never left anything to chance; never abused his power; and, above all, never allowed his passions to interfere with nor to interrupt the cool exercise of his reason.
At a later period, another of Rozycki's military exploits was the destruction of KargopoFs Russian dragoon regiment, near Ilza; and the dispersion of an enemy's force five times more numerous than his own, and provided moreover with artillery. The leading facts of this brilliant, indeed, almost romantic affair, may be thus briefly stated. The colonel in question, seeing Rozycki's small troop advancing to attack him, made with his hand a gesture of contempt, and accepted the proffered engagement before the whole of his artillery and the rest of his forces had come up. The con- ilict took place partly in a deep ravine. Rozycki, after he had beaten the dragoons, and with his own hand slain the Russian colonel, would not suffer the rest of the forces to deploy, keeping them blocked up in the ravine, and making repeated and incessant charges on the head of the enemys column. After a most obstinate, deadly fight, of several hours' duration, he turned the column by his carabineers, and forced the enemy to take to flight.